“You’re such a good friend. Sorry I’m such a wreck,” I whisper and drop my head, inspecting the asphalt, coming to grips with the fact I have no options. “I guess you could give me the hat I’m supposed to wear.”
“Right here.” Allison digs through her enormous purse and pulls out a two-foot-tall lime-green hat and passes it to me.
But that isn’t all, apparently. Allison furrows her brows and I hold my breath as she rummages around in her goody bag for another surprise. “Your glasses,” she says quietly, handing me a pair of large plastic sunglasses with shamrock frames. “Loretta wanted you to wear these,” she sheepishly adds, “sorry.”
“Fine.” I shrug, taking them from her. “Sorry to be such a bitch, but there isn’t anyone else to complain to. Most people think I’m nice.”
“Because you are.” She smiles. “And you make a cute leprechaun.”
I glance down at my costume and the glare off the fabric practically blinds me. “You’re too kind.”I burst into a fit of giggles and we both laugh so hard we cry.
“Last call for any guests riding on the floats. Please check in with the driver of your vehicle,” someone announces over a bullhorn.
We quickly wipe our eyes and gather our composure. Allison points to my float of doom. “Shall I escort you to your carriage?”
“I’d appreciate it, I say, putting the glasses on. “I might break my neck in these things.” I vaguely make out a blurry image of Allison checking her phone.
“It’s five minutes to ten. Time to roll.”
After tripping over a pothole, I take my glasses off as we walk to the largest float on the other side of the lot. Loretta mentioned the mayor and a few celebrities would be riding with me, so ours is the grandest, greenest rig of them all.
When we’re still a good distance from my upcoming party on wheels, we pause at a pack of photographers surrounding the truck, apparently anxious to report our every move on their social media feeds. I’m having a hard time putting one curly leprechaun bootie in front of the other.
“Do I look okay?” I ask, straightening my dress.
“Yep,” Allison nods convincingly, adding extra oomph. “You’re fine.”
“Right.” I chuckle. “I don’t even know why I’m asking.”
“What on earth is happening over there?” Allison points. “Are those TV cameras?”
“Not sure, but there’s an awful lot of excitement for our tiny town’s parade. You’d think we were in Bozeman.” I shield my eyes from the sun’s glare with my hand and spot a small white fluff ball take off in a run, followed by a black lab, and a miniature scruffy something. “Are there puppies in the parade?”
“And kittens. The veterinary clinic has a booth at the fair. I saw them setting up while coming in.” Allison gasps and covers her mouth. “How could I forget? Our new vet is so popular, there’s a production company making a TV show about him calledWild Vet. I’m sure that’s why all those cameras are here.”
“And who is that?” I gape at a tall man with broad shoulders and brown hair step away from the crowd. He gracefully bendshis large physique and holds out his hand. I’m too far to hear what he’s saying, but he immediately gets the attention of the furry escapees darting around the parking lot.
“That’s who I was talking about. The extremely photogenic, wild vet, Dr. Bo Jordain.” Allison studies me with a grin. “West Palomino’s new veterinarian. Isn’t he cute?”
“The dogs arecute.The good doctor issomething else. He’s …” I try to think of a word to describe him but don’t come up with anything except, “he’s gorgeous.”
“And he’s riding on the float with you.”
I spin to Allison and send her a silent S.O.S. “Seriously? And I’m wearing this?”
“Just wave and smile. It’s all you have to do, okay?”
“I guess it won’t take very long to drive up Main Street.”
“That’s the spirit. Then we’ll spend the day getting pampered.”
I brighten. “It was pretty nice of Loretta to comp us those treatments at Wild Cat Ranch and Spa.”
“And after we’re completely relaxed and refreshed, we’ll pick up your mother for dinner and cocktails, and really celebrate your birthday. Deal?”
“Deal. And who knows, maybe we’ll meet a few hot cowboys.”
“Um.” She scans me up and down, cracking up. “Not in that outfit.”
